Many in the industry really felt for Alec Hogg in October when he walked away from Moneyweb, the company he built from nothing into a highly respected player in the media industry. Hogg tells Bizcommunity why he's philosophical about the move, what he's doing with his year's restraint of trade and what was so different about the values of majority shareholder Caxton and his own that made it impossible for him to stay on as Moneyweb CEO and board member.

NEWSWATCH: Just before three journalists were to be interviewed on Metro FM on the subject of the upcoming ANC elective conference in Mangaung and media coverage of the event, a call from "on high" apparently led to the three being stopped from going on air, reports Mail & Guardian.

Given Primedia's history of rapaciously buying media assets, the upcoming purchase of the rest of Johannesburg-based radio station Kaya FM is no big deal. What is a big deal is that Primedia might relist on the JSE. But the company seems intent on playing the deal down - especially the possible relisting, which has institutional investors very tuned in.

I don't know if, like me, you need to abscond from the daily grind of work, traffic, political upheaval and questionable government service delivery with the odd television fix. Maybe your poison falls more along the lines of late afternoon family soapies, the more cerebral documentaries, or even the never-ending slapstick comedy fare that that our state broadcaster churns out like a sausage machine.

There is a ban on free news media photography at the Lady Gaga Concerts in Johannesburg and Cape Town, with the organisers only making available selected publicity photographs. The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) notes its concern at such a decision, which it regards as a form of press censorship, fundamentally in conflict with the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of media in South Africa.

Times Media Academy will launch in January 2013, with its first training module aimed at strengthening skills in the understanding of the print industry. Times Media will cover the full costs of hosting course applicants from tertiary institutions and creative agencies who wish to strengthen the quality of print work they deliver.

Media group Naspers on Tuesday, 27 November 2012, reported that during the six months to September 2012‚ revenue from the group's internet operations‚ which includes e-commerce‚ increased 70% to R14.1bn.

Media magazine will produce its third edition of the 40 most influential people in the industry, under the age of 40, in March 2013. Nominations are now open and proposers are asked to include a "quirky titbit" of information about the person they are nominating. Self-nomination is also acceptable.

Jonathan Shapiro, better known as Zapiro, will present some of his most topical cartoons and discuss the ideas surrounding them at the Grill Room, Kelvin Grove Club, Newlands on Tuesday, 4 December 2012, at 12.30pm for 1pm.

The Right2Know Campaign will hold a candlelight vigil against the Secrecy Bill on Thursday, 29 November 2012, from 5:30-7:30pm on Joubert Street (corner Hoofd) on the Women's Jail side of the Constitutional Court precinct in Braamfontein.

The SABC has expressed its concern regarding The Star newspapers' headline "SABC bans Zuma Advert", published on 27 November 2012. The broadcaster is of the view that the advert implied an endorsement of the product sold by the Fish and Chip Company, but the headline made no reference to the ad actually being for fish and chips.

Stuart Lowe, RamsayMedia's managing director, will be leaving the company with effect from mid-December 2012. According to chairman Alan Ramsay, who made the announcement, a number of factors influenced this development, noting that Lowe's enthusiasm, energy and passion for the business will be sorely missed.

What a breath of fresh air, a bold and confident statement, that the Times Media Group's (TMG) rate setting for 2013 would be based on the Advertising Media Forum (AMF) definition of core circulation. This will send a clear message to advertisers that TMG not only means business but will commit to a partnership of shared responsibility and reward.

Tensions among directors of the SABC spilled out into the open on Tuesday, 20 November 2012, when the national broadcaster's suspended chief financial officer, Gugu Duda, moved to accuse the board of poor governance practices.

On 21 November 2012 members of the NCOP ad hoc committee voted to finalise a Bill that, according to Right2Know, still carries the fingerprints of the securocrats who have remained the 'hidden hand' behind this process from the start. The ANC used its numerical majority to force the Secrecy Bill one step closer to becoming a Secrecy Law.

As part of their annual year-end function, CoreXalance awarded the financial departments of the media owners they do business with. Photos of the cocktail evening and ceremony held earlier this month are available on the CoreXalance website.

Times Media, the listed entity that owns Avusa, says it will focus on reducing the group's debt and improving revenue and operating margins following a trading update on Friday, 16 November 2012, that revealed a very subdued performance.

Judge Nomsa Khumalo of the Pretoria High Court ruled that the NPA had failed to argue that there were grounds for an urgent interdict against the Sunday Times for wanting to publish "How Zuma got off the hook". Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa has also conceded that the arrest of Sunday Times journalist, Mzilikazi wa Afrika, was wrongful and agreed to pay him R100,000 in damages and to pay the newspaper's legal costs.